Graduation!!!

Last night was one of the best nights of my life! The last 2 years (3 1/2 if you count my pre-requisite courses) was so crazy (lots of hard work, time away from family, and lack of sleep, etc). I don't know how many times I told myself "it will be worth it" over these last 2 years and last night I realized it was!

Here is the group of girls that were my sanity and helped
me make it through the really tough times

After we all had our names read and walked across the stage we went down below and all together (120 nursing graduates) rose up holding "candles". (we joked that it symbolized our rise from hell (nursing school) into the profession)

Then we recited the nursing pledge and were officially welcomed into the profession.
It was an amazing feeling!

I would not have made it these last 2 years without all my family and friends' support. I am very blessed to have so many supporters and those who love me. Here I am with 2 of those people, my mom and dad. I have the BEST parents in the world, they help and support me in countless ways. Love you mom and dad! THANKS!!!

This last picture is the reason: the reason I went to school and the reason I made it through.
I love you Mike, Rylee, Cole, Noah, and Jenna!

Let the Graduation Festivities begin...

Our cohort, which consists of the 39 individuals that I have spent the last 2 years with, had a pre-graduation luncheon yesterday. It was so fun to have most of us there together with our families to just relax and have fun. We had a potluck with soups, salads, and desserts and everything was so yummy! They gave out "awards" that we had all nominated our fellow classmates for. I got "most put together." Man, I fooled them. ;-) Then we watched a slide show that one of the girls has been working on for the past 2 years. It was awesome to watch how much we have changed, learned, and grown these past 2 years. Here is a picture of most of us, some were unable to attend. There were like 20 cameras all taking pictures at the same time so it is not the best picture, but the best I had on my camera.

DONE WITH NURSING SCHOOL!!!

I am officially done with nursing school and it doesn't seem quite real yet. I have graduation on Friday night and I am going to enjoy celebrating with my fellow nursing students, my friends, and my family. Then I have to start preparing for my boards and find a job. Pray for me! I figure if we survived the last 2 years the next month or so will be a piece of cake.

Last Day of Class Ever!!!

Well, at least for now. All I have left is 2 finals next week!!! Of course I still have boards to take and to find a job and someday I will go on and get my bachelors. But I am feeling good today after my last day of class.